Questions are good, answers are even better

I’ve been managing my money myself and have done a pretty good job of it. Do I really need a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ planner to help me achieve financial freedom?

Congratulations on doing a good job with your money! It’s really important for you to understand your investment portfolio and know what’s happening with your money, even if you’re working with an advisor. My job is to help you have, understand and manage a well-diversified portfolio. Financial freedom doesn’t come from making good returns in a good market; it comes from keeping what you've made even when the market is down.

How do you choose which investments are right for me?

I work on a very individual basis, which involves getting to know you, your family, your retirement dreams and even how you think about money and investing. Before I make recommendations on suitable investments for you, we’ll go through a risk tolerance questionnaire, talk about what you want from your money, discuss your future plans, and determine where (and when) you want your money to grow. Why should I work with you instead of one of those big financial planning firms?

Sometimes investors just want the personalized portfolio attention I offer. I don’t do things like the “big guys.” I won’t, for example, make you feel like you’re just a number, favor bigger accounts over yours, and send you over to “junior” so he can use your money to learn the business of investing. I have more than 30 years of experience in this business and give my clients the kind of personalized attention they want and need. I’ll be candid, I think you should know and like the person who’s helping to handle your money. (And I’ve been told I’m pretty likeable.) Contact me to see if you don’t agree.How much will your services cost? In other words, how do you get paid?

That’s a great—and fair—question. How I get paid depends on the services you need. If my role is to manage your investments, I’ll get paid one of two ways: (1) through a quarterly fee assessed on your account, with no commission on trades, or (2) on commission when I buy and sell mutual funds on your behalf. In the first scenario, my focus is on making trades to improve your account, not generate new commissions for myself. We share the same goal: grow your portfolio. The second scenario is one that I recommend only for very small portfolios, such as those with less than $50,000 in assets. I’m simply not a fan of commission-based scenarios when it comes to wealth management. Now I do offer additional support products, such as equipment leasing, oil and gas drilling programs, and non-traded REITS, that produce a commission for me and do not have a quarterly fee attached to them. If we work together, we’ll talk about all of this in more detail so you’re comfortable with our arrangement.

Can you set up a plan for me and then let me manage it myself?

Absolutely. I’m happy to work on advisory basis, that is, one in which you compensate me for my expertise. All we need to do is agree upfront on how often we’ll meet and what my fee is. I have several clients that prefer this arrangement, so contact me if you’d like to talk.

You have almost a full alphabet after your name! But why should that matter to me?

I do, indeed! Actually, the designations I’ve earned tell clients that I’m not just a stockbroker who got his license yesterday. These designations are a demonstration of my commitment to you and show that I’ve gone above and beyond to further my understanding of not just the market, but how the market, taxes and asset transfer to your heirs should work together for your benefit. This education in my field helps me work better for you, so I can coordinate your financial plan with other advisers, such as your accountant or attorney.